SPLASH! for Swimmable Cities @ WUF13

SPACES LIMITED - SPLASH! for Swimmable Cities @ World Urban Forum, May 22, 7am

• 5:30-5:55am FREE SHUTTLE PICK UP: Azerbaijan Ministry of Sport & Youth, 4 Olimpiya St, Baku

• 7am SWIM LOCATION: Sea Breeze, Nardaran 1000, Azerbaijan

• 8:30am FREE SHUTTLE DROP OFF: Baku Olympic Stadium

Acting Locally for Global Impact - Join UN Habitat ED Anaclaudia Rossbach for a special morning swim on the International Day of Biodiversity! Spaces are limited, so register now!

High-level leaders, Mayors, WUF Participants and Local Swimmers are invited to a ‘SPLASH for Swimmable Cities’ at the 13th World Urban Forum in Baku, May 22. 

Set on the Caspian Sea, the event will unite urban shapers around the vision of safe, healthy and swimmable waterways for all communities around the world. Coinciding with the International Day of Biodiversity, the SPLASH is designed to raise awareness about the interconnections between the housing crisis, liveability, access to blue open spaces and urban biodiversity. 

The event is organized by UN-Habitat in partnership with Swimmable Cities, the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Swimming Federation.

The SPLASH builds upon the legacy of the Paris Olympics and the cleanup of the River Seine, and continues a tradition started at the inaugural Swimmable Cities Summit in Rotterdam in 2025. Since its launch in July 2024, municipalities and organisations across 115 cities and 37 countries have now signed the international Swimmable Cities Charter. 

Let's make waves of positive change together!

SAFETY FIRST!

The Azerbaijan Swimming Federation is responsible for supporting the event with lifeguards and water safety.

Program:

• Before 5:55 - FREE Shuttle Bus Pick Up

  • Pick Up: Bus station in front of Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium.

  • Note: We recommend taking Bolt Cars (or Taxi) to the Bus Stop (as general public transport starts after 6am)

• 07:00 – Welcome Remarks

  • Hon. Farid Gayibov (Minister of Sport & Youth, Republic of Azerbaijan)

  • Anaclaudia Rossbach (Executive Director, UN Habitat)

  • Rashad Abdurahmanov (Advisor, Azerbaijan Swimming Federation)

  • Matthew Sykes (Co-Founder, Swimmable Cities)

• 07:10 – Group Photo & Morning Dip

• 07:20 – Breakfast Snack & Live DJ

• 07:45 – Return to Forum

• 08:30 - Arrive at Forum for Friday program

Why Join?

• Celebrate housing solutions that integrate blue open spaces

• Support the Right to Swim in safe, healthy and biodiverse urban waterways

• Connect with urban leaders and Baku locals

• Experience Baku from its most beautiful vantage point – the Caspian Sea

What to Bring:

• Please arrive wearing your swimwear under your clothes, to ensure a prompt start to the event. 

• WUF badge for identification, water bottle, and your enthusiasm!

• Remember to bring warm clothes for after the swim, and business attire for the Forum. 

What’s provided:

• Towel

• Live Music

• Breakfast Snack & Drink

• Changeroom tents

MORE INFO:

Swimmable Cities is a global initiative shaping the liveability and resilience of communities around the world. Since launching its Charter before the Paris Olympics, our alliance has grown to include 236 diverse organisations across 115 cities and towns in 37 countries. Building on the success of our inaugural Summit in Rotterdam in June 2025, we established a Community of Practice for implementation which now supports 54 municipalities across 5 continents. Go to: www.swimmablecities.org/

World Urban Forum - https://wuf.unhabitat.org/

International Day of Biodiversity - https://www.cbd.int/biodiversity-day/2026

Photo credit:  Iltun Huseynli, Caspian Sea, Baku, Azaerbaijan